Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese - taybehhttp://www.antiochian.org/taxonomy/term/1563/0
en-USA White Orthodox Christmashttp://www.antiochian.org/node/50051
<!--paging_filter--><p><em>by Maria C. Khoury, Ed.D.</em></p>
<p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>It is the Holy Christmas Day on the Old Julian Calendar and snow has been falling all day long in the Holy Land bringing an unusual closure from the weather instead of military occupation.</p>
<p>Wishing all of our friends on the Old Calendar a blessed Holy Nativity and also wishing everyone a healthy happy new year with renewed hope for justice and peace.</p>
<p>Christ is Born! Glorify Him!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hymn from the 1st Royal Hour</strong><br /><strong>4th Plagal tone</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"Make ready, O Bethlehem! Let the manger be prepared, let the cave show its welcome. The Truth is come, the shadow is passed away; God hath appeared from a Virgin unto men --- formed as we are, and deifying that which He hath assumed. Wherefore Adam is renewed with Eve, as they cry out: Thy good will hath appeared on earth to save our race."</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
letters from the holy landmaria khourynativitytaybehThu, 08 Jan 2015 18:01:18 +0000afrishman50051 at http://www.antiochian.orgWishing You a Blessed Holy Christmas Celebrationhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/49771
<!--paging_filter--><p><em>by Maria C. Khoury, Ed.D.</em></p>
<p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>It is that special holy time of year where we can truly be transformed by the Birth of our Lord Jesus no matter what oppressed conditions we might be experiencing. We are promised a new beginning.</p>
<p>Christ is Born! Glorify Him!</p>
<p>It has been an extremely difficult year with the whole Middle East upside down and especially Christians being killed every day in Syria and Iraq. People are suffering in so many places in the world. Here in the Holy Land, such extreme severe violence broke out between Israelis and Palestinians that it is just beyond belief. Every day we suffer under Israeli military occupation but we are so grateful for your prayers. We are thankful for all who help maintain our Christian presence in the Holy Land. Our community is small but important to keep Christians in the very place where Christ was born in harmony with all faith groups witnessing the True Light. The words of the angel spoken more than two thousand years ago are more comforting to me now than ever, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you Good News of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10)</p>
<p>I personally need to thank the many churches and people who support Christina Books and the Taybeh Education Fund. $1,000 was given to college students in Taybeh and $2600 as tuition registration for 15 elementary students. We have been fortunate through your kindness to be able to offer this consistent support over the last five years. The Taybeh Education Endowment Fund was established in 2006 with less than five thousand dollars and has now reached close to $80,000. Five out of the 15 children have sponsors committed to $350.00 annually.</p>
<p>May the spirit of Christmas remain with you the whole year and may it be peaceful in your heart, home, church and in our land. With sincere good wishes, maria</p>
<blockquote><p>"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)</p>
</blockquote>
letters from the holy landmaria khourynativitytaybehTue, 23 Dec 2014 16:54:09 +0000afrishman49771 at http://www.antiochian.orgReceiving the Holy Fire Once Againhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/35884
<!--paging_filter--><p><em>by Maria C. Khoury, Ed.D.</em></p>
<p>We have just celebrated the Miracle of the Holy Fire in Taybeh in a most magnificent way at the outskirts of our village approximately 5:30 pm local time on this Great and Holy Saturday while waiting all afternoon when this great miracle occurred once again in Jerusalem.</p>
<p>"O Gladsome Light, of the Holy glory of the Immortal Father, heavenly Holy, blessed Jesus Christ!" (Holy Saturday Morning Prayers)</p>
<p>The local priests, Fr. Daoud, Fr. Jack and Fr. Aziz, of all three churches and Fr. Peter who came from Jerusalem with the choir chanting, and the Taybeh Scouts beating the drums marched again this year to meet our cousin Ibrahim with his son Philip, who went to the city of Ramallah, where the faithful brought the flame from Jerusalem for the Palestinian Christian s who cannot reach the Holy City due to lack of permits. Many residents of Taybeh, were in the streets for the ecumenical procession which was simply glorious although a bit cloudy with a sprinkle of rain.</p>
<p>The solemn and beautiful procession in our village ended at St. George Church, where Fr. Daoud placed the flame on the altar to await the faithful for the Resurrection service of Holy Pascha: "Come ye and receive light from the unwaning Light, and glorify Christ, Who arose from the dead."</p>
<p>In the last few years during Great and Holy Saturday, I have delivered the same message from the Holy Land. But it has been a great spiritual joy to keep reminding friends about the miracle that appeared for the first time during the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:4; Matthew 28:1-4) This magnificent miracle is at the core of our Christian presence in the Holy Land The Miracle of the Holy Fire received today by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem was broadcasted live on Palestine TV.</p>
<p>The brilliant ceremony is considered a miracle because there is no explanation for the way the Holy Fire appears from the Holy Life Giving Tomb of Christ actually coming down from Heaven. Many personal accounts have called the miracle "incredible" and similar to lighting. The Holy Fire at the moment is in flight to many surrounding countries that have less than three hour flights by private transportation including Cyprus, Greece, Russia, Romania.</p>
<p>The Christian community in the Holy Land witnessed the True Light of Christ by receiving the Holy Fire today so that all who are not living in the land of Christ's Holy Resurrection can believe that Christ is "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).</p>
<p>It is so difficult this year to wish everyone a blessed and glorious holy Pascha knowing in Syria the new rules from fanatics is that it is forbidden to wear or display the cross in public. It is forbidden to ring the church bells in public. Also, Christians are asked to pay a tax or convert to Islam; how sad that the new Middle East that America wishes to develop has really gone back one thousand years in history. May our Risen Lord who has had victory over death have mercy on those suffering in different places of the world! May the peace of Christ and the knowledge that our Lord offers everlasting life continue to bring us joy and give us hope. Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Please accept my humble wishes for a glorious Holy Pascha from the Land of Christ's Holy Resurrection!</p>
<p>For my first time witness on the Miracle of the Holy Fire view:<br /><a href="http://www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org/maria_khourys_page/maria_khourys_archive/mk_article_0005.html">www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org/maria_khourys_page/maria_khourys_archive/mk_article_0005.html</a></p>
holy fireletters from the holy landmaria khourypaschataybehSun, 20 Apr 2014 21:36:04 +0000afrishman35884 at http://www.antiochian.orgWishing you a Blessed Palm Sundayhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/35863
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>I hope and pray your Palm Sunday was as blessed and glorious as the beautiful and sunny Palm Sunday celebration we had here in Taybeh today with all three churches and the entire Taybeh community marching in an amazing ecumenical procession in the village which solemnly ended up at the fourth century ruins of Saint George Church. We keep our hope in Christ especially since conditions in the Middle East especially Syria and Egypt are worse than ever for Christians. May our Lord have mercy! There does not appear to be a resurrection for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict either. In front of my kitchen window I can now see four new illegal Israeli settlements being built on confiscated Palestinian land on mountain tops.</p>
<p>However, in the very land of Christ's Holy Resurrection we will continue to pray that the world will always be guided by the True Light of Christ.</p>
<p>I hope you will have a blessed holy week and glorious Pascha celebration.</p>
<p>With sincere good wishes from Taybeh, <br />maria</p>
<blockquote><p>Matthew 21:9<br />The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"</p>
</blockquote>
letters from the holy landtaybehMon, 14 Apr 2014 16:37:51 +0000afrishman35863 at http://www.antiochian.orgBook Review + Christina's Counting Book by Maria Khouryhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/35273
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>Greetings from the Holy Land on this holy day of the Annunciation which we celebrate here 13 days later. God grant many years for all celebrating on this special feast day! Happy Greek Independence Day for all of our Greek friends too!</p>
<p>To avoid sending you too many emails I am finding this chance to ask you to please recommend Christina Books to your Sunday School and Bookstore during this Holy Great Lent. Thank you for sharing this Book Review by my dear friend Marilyn Rouvelas. With the great blessing to be in Jerusalem today at the most sacred Holy Life Giving Tomb of Christ, I did light a candle especially for the Lord to rest in peace the soul of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip. Memory Eternal!</p>
<p>Our sincere sympathy from Taybeh, in Christ, maria</p>
<p>In Christ, <br />maria</p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Book Review by Marilyn Rouvelas</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Maria Khoury, </em><a href="http://store.holycrossbookstore.com/myorcobomack.html">Christina's Counting Book</a>, Second Edition<br /><em>Canaan David Khoury Publications, 2013. Pp. 32, $10</em></p>
<p>Fortunately the number of Orthodox children's books keeps multiplying, yet it is encouraging to see that Maria Khoury's Christina books continue to anchor the shelves! Her books communicate to our little ones so sweetly and effectively about our faith. <em>Christina's Counting Book, Second Edition</em>, is another treasure, and I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>This book for preschoolers and older is an old friend with a brand-new, come-read-me look. The basic purpose of the book remains the same: to help a child learn to count while learning about the Orthodox faith through text and pictures that "stimulate spiritual growth and development." The child is invited to count one to twelve items relating to Orthodoxy: a censer, Easter eggs, crosses, evangelists, loaves, Holy Communion, candles, altar boys, memorial wheat dishes, holy bread, choir members, and censer bells. The items are described in simple language so the child can learn about traditions and values he/she will experience while attending the Divine Liturgy and other services. For example, "Having Holy Communion is the best way to tell Jesus our Lord that we love Him." Rev. Protopresvyter Athanosios (Al) Demos, former Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, remarked, "Maria chose clear examples of what the children actually see, relate to and understand in church. I love this book and thank her for helping me to learn to count in six languages [English, Greek, Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic], a special feature that lends to creating a linguistic learning interest."</p>
<p>While the purpose remains the same, there are four improvements in this second edition. First, the illustrations by Nicole Hillas Minetos (replacing the fuzzy photographs in the first edition) are bright and done in a "primitive" style that children can relate to. On the purple cover, Christina's bright blue eyes sparkle as she lights her candle in the church narthex. The eight altar boys in procession look both mischievous and serious. Second, the book has more interactive content asking the child to look for other things in the church and to learn special vocabulary relating to the faith. Third, the pronunciation layout for each number is more reader friendly, and the addition of the Russian language welcome. Fourth, the print and paper quality are much improved.</p>
<p>The reissuing of Christina's Counting Book is not just about more books to sell. The author's determination to continue the Christina series speaks to her tenacious personality. Not only has she given us delightful children books, but for many years she has been an educator about and advocate for the few remaining Christians in the Holy Land where she lives north of Jerusalem in Taybeh, the last Christian village in Palestine. Reading the fine print of this second edition, gives small glimpses of her life and work on this cause. The book was "Printed in the Holy Land." Because unemployment is so high in Palestine, she always uses printers there to help the local economy. The book's dedication to her twenty-five-year-old cousin, Yousef Ghassan Khouri (drowned in Louisiana, but buried in Taybeh) speaks to the closeness of this Palestinian family that has sacrificed so much to maintain a living Christian presence in the land of our Savior. Also acknowledged is Sophia Nibi (+), an invaluable assistant in the chancellor's office of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, who helped with the collection of donations for the construction of homes for Orthodox families in Taybeh. When Maria comes to the United States for part of the year, she raises awareness about the plight of Holy Land Christians, and raises money for their housing and scholarships for Palestinian college students. It is all for the glory of God, and may He continue to bless Maria and her family in her ministry of the word and works. Find out more about Maria Khoury's books and her Holy Land work at <a href="http://www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org" title="www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org">www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org</a>.</p>
<p>Christina's Counting Book, Second Edition, is available at <a href="http://store.holycrossbookstore.com/">www.holycrossbookstore.com</a>, 800-245-0599 or the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education, <a href="mailto:religioused@goarch.org">religioused@goarch.org</a>, 800-566-1088.</p>
<p><em>Reviewed by Marilyn Rouvelas, author of A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs in America; co-author with Jeanette Aydlette of Peter Clashes with Anger, and Eleni Looks at Jealousy; and a Greek Orthodox Archdiocese representative on the leadership council of Churches for Middle East Peace.</em></p>
letters from the holy landtaybehWed, 26 Mar 2014 22:33:25 +0000afrishman35273 at http://www.antiochian.orgFirst Orthodox Christian Short Film Festivalhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/32252
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>I wish you a blessed and peaceful Triodion Period as many of us are preparing for the Holy Great Lenten Journey.</p>
<p>I wanted to share the witness of Justin Daniel so that you might view his film about the Holy Fire and vote. Please know the way he describes this amazing miracle is honest and true. It is the way I have experienced it... Please share <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CI5YZ0tQE&amp;list=PLqftEcMG5LQ4hafrFuZbxfmqEPWAeFSb8">The Miracle of the Holy Fire</a> with your church community and Sunday school students especially this time of year when all of our eyes turn to Jerusalem to spiritually walk with Christ. Consider providing a link on your website.</p>
<p>Orthodox Filmmakers and Artists are hosting the first ever Orthodox Christian Short Film Festival via the internet. Justin Daniel's short video blog about the HOLY FIRE &amp; PASCHA IN THE HOLY CITY has been selected to screen at Byzanfest along with 11 other short-films. Although the short film has not been nominated for any awards it can still have a chance of winning the AUDIENCE FAVOURITE AWARD.</p>
<p>This is awarded to the film that receives the most number of 'likes' on the Orthodox Filmmakers &amp; Artists' YouTube Channel. You can view all 12 films via the YouTube link from the <a href="http:www.orthodoxfilmmakersandartists.blogspot.com">OFA Byzanfest Official Website</a> which will lead you to the official Byzanfest viewing page to view all 12 films. If you have troubles, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfJ48l95X1k&amp;list=PLqftEcMG5LQ4hafrFuZbxfmqEPWAeFSb8">please use this link</a>.</p>
<p>Justin's short video that did not make the awards is based on the tour I give in Taybeh: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLuulo3E1z0">Tour of the Palestinian Traditional Parables Home</a>.</p>
<p>We hope that you might recommend Taybeh to others when they are as close as Jerusalem. I am very heartbroken when the tour groups say that they are too scared to come and visit us. We are also human. We appreciate your prayers, support and solidarity.</p>
<p>We have a new eighty room hotel opening in the Fall, God willing and we would appreciate your visit and boost of the economy. The Taybeh Golden Hotel should be running by the time when we hope and pray to host the 10th annual Taybeh Oktoberfest, scheduled September 20-21, 2014 but still waiting for local approval. At any rate, on a personal note, we are celebrating 20 years of making an excellent beer in Palestine.</p>
<p>All that we do is based on the grace of God.</p>
<p>In Christ, <br />maria</p>
letters from the holy landtaybehThu, 20 Feb 2014 23:43:11 +0000afrishman32252 at http://www.antiochian.orgFirst Orthodox Christian Short Film Festivalhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/32251
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>I wish you a blessed and peaceful Triodion Period as many of us are preparing for the Holy Great Lenten Journey.</p>
<p>I wanted to share the witness of Justin Daniel so that you might view his film about the Holy Fire and vote. Please know the way he describes this amazing miracle is honest and true. It is the way I have experienced it... Please share <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CI5YZ0tQE&amp;list=PLqftEcMG5LQ4hafrFuZbxfmqEPWAeFSb8">The Miracle of the Holy Fire</a> with your church community and Sunday school students especially this time of year when all of our eyes turn to Jerusalem to spiritually walk with Christ. Consider providing a link on your website.</p>
<p>Orthodox Filmmakers and Artists are hosting the first ever Orthodox Christian Short Film Festival via the internet. Justin Daniel's short video blog about the HOLY FIRE &amp; PASCHA IN THE HOLY CITY has been selected to screen at Byzanfest along with 11 other short-films. Although the short film has not been nominated for any awards it can still have a chance of winning the AUDIENCE FAVOURITE AWARD.</p>
<p>This is awarded to the film that receives the most number of 'likes' on the Orthodox Filmmakers &amp; Artists' YouTube Channel. You can view all 12 films via the YouTube link from the <a href="http:www.orthodoxfilmmakersandartists.blogspot.com">OFA Byzanfest Official Website</a> which will lead you to the official Byzanfest viewing page to view all 12 films. If you have troubles, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfJ48l95X1k&amp;list=PLqftEcMG5LQ4hafrFuZbxfmqEPWAeFSb8">please use this link</a>.</p>
<p>Justin's short video that did not make the awards is based on the tour I give in Taybeh: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLuulo3E1z0">Tour of the Palestinian Traditional Parables Home</a>.</p>
<p>We hope that you might recommend Taybeh to others when they are as close as Jerusalem. I am very heartbroken when the tour groups say that they are too scared to come and visit us. We are also human. We appreciate your prayers, support and solidarity.</p>
<p>We have a new eighty room hotel opening in the Fall, God willing and we would appreciate your visit and boost of the economy. The Taybeh Golden Hotel should be running by the time when we hope and pray to host the 10th annual Taybeh Oktoberfest, scheduled September 20-21, 2014 but still waiting for local approval. At any rate, on a personal note, we are celebrating 20 years of making an excellent beer in Palestine.</p>
<p>All that we do is based on the grace of God.</p>
<p>In Christ, <br />maria</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
letters from the holy landtaybehThu, 20 Feb 2014 23:38:41 +0000afrishman32251 at http://www.antiochian.orgThe Permit Storyhttp://www.antiochian.org/node/32121
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>I pray and hope you are well.</p>
<p>For those interested to share updates with their older students in Sunday School, I am sending a link to my latest interview on Ancient Faith Radio: <a href="http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/features/a_christian_on_the_west_bank">www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/features/a_christian_on_the_west_bank</a></p>
<p>Today, I am happy my husband received a travel permit to come to Boston, while there are many denied permits daily and the policies that violate human dignity continue.</p>
<p>We will show an expression of our personal non violent action with the film "Palestine, Beer and Oktoberfest Under Occupation." Monday, Feb 3rd, 7:00 pm, Reading Room, Hellenic College/Holy Cross, 50 Goddard Ave, Brookline, MA</p>
<p>Forgive me to share a message from Samia Khoury, a friend in Jerusalem:</p>
<hr />
<p>Dear Friends: We were at a memorial service in Bethlehem yesterday for Khadder Tarazi, the nephew of my sister's husband. His death at the age of 46 was a shock not only to his family, his mother, wife, three children and five sisters, but to the Gaza community and the large circle of family and friends in Bethlehem and Ramallah and the Gulf area. People die every day for some reason or another, and after forty six years under a military occupation we hear sad stories daily about killings and sick people dying in jail or at checkpoints. But what touched me yesterday was the sad but dignified expression of the parents of Khader's wife. As soon as they heard the news they came rushing across the bridge from Jordan to be with their daughter and her children. But even in the midst of our grief Israel fails to show some humanity. The father was allowed to go to Gaza for the funeral whereas the mother was not granted a permit. Why? And what is the justification for such brutality? There weren't enough words to console them yesterday as they stood to shake hands with all those people who came to pay their respects and offer their condolences. People in sorrow deserve an expression of humanity. But I suppose that is too much to ask from a military who has kept the whole Gaza Strip under siege for the last seven years.</p>
<p>Ironically the case of Khadder left two renowned Israeli hospitals in a puzzle. When he got sick, presumably from some virus, he was rushed to Shaare Zedek in Jerusalem where his kidneys started to fail and despite the dialysis his condition kept deteriorating very fast that the hospital decided to transfer him to Hadassah hospital where all his system eventually shut down and he passed away. Here were doctors, Israelis as well as Palestinians, trying to save this young man's life, while the military could not even show a sign of humanity by granting a woman the privilege of being with her daughter and grandchildren at a time of grief. Samia</p>
letters from the holy landtaybehTue, 28 Jan 2014 23:23:42 +0000afrishman32121 at http://www.antiochian.orgChrist is Born! Glorify Him!http://www.antiochian.org/node/32051
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>Wishing all of you, a most blessed Holy Christmas, with sincere good wishes during these most holy days, <br />Maria</p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Christ is Born! Glorify Him!</strong></p>
<p>Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.</p>
<p>“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)</p>
<p>It is under unimaginable conditions of Apartheid that Christians in Bethlehem continue to share the Good News. Christ is Born!&nbsp; Glorify Him!&nbsp; The Orthodox Holy Nativity Liturgy is always celebrated on the Old Julian calendar but culturally and socially since after the Oslo Peace Agreement (1993) all Christians have united to celebrate Christmas day on December 25<sup>th</sup>. It is always expected that the president of Palestine shows up at the midnight service both times or at least that is what the late Yasser Arafat use to do to embrace the Christian community during the most sacred day of Christ’s birth.&nbsp; Specifically, in the Holy Land, Christmas is celebrated three times: Catholic, Orthodox, and Armenian (Dec 25<sup>th</sup>, Jan 7<sup>th</sup>, Jan 19<sup>th&nbsp;</sup>).</p>
<p>All efforts are being made with the new mayor of Bethlehem being a woman, Ms. Vera Baboun to have diverse and distinctive activities for this holy city to attract pilgrims. This December 23<sup>rd</sup>, across the globe, Activists for Peace will light a candle, say a prayer, or send healing energy in solidarity with the Palestinians in Bethlehem and in the Holy Land.&nbsp; From Bethlehem Nativity Square, a prayer vigil will be held for Peace in the Holy Land and including all people suffering from conflict particularly in Syria.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is the 46<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;year that Christians in Bethlehem will be celebrating Christmas under Israeli military occupation. It is important, more than ever, to understand the Good News and to pray for the peace that the “Prince of Peace” offers in a place that has turned into a big prison. As the local people are literally locked up behind a 26<sup>th&nbsp;</sup>foot concrete wall, the Christian community will continue to reflect the true Light of Christ no matter how small their numbers dwindle. Palestinian Christians will continue to announce the Good News from Bethlehem with their genuine witness, although more than twenty-two illegal Israeli settlements are closing in on the little town of Christ’s birth. Not to mention hundred of checkpoints everywhere.</p>
<p>I am completely overwhelmed with the ongoing tragic news from Syria and Egypt and the great suffering that violence brings to humanity. I don’t understand why churches are being burned down and Christians are burned alive. I cannot understand why the oldest monasteries in the world have to be attacked. I can only think that we have gone back to the time before Constantine the Great and martyrdom for Christ is no longer something that happened only in the first centuries. It is a harsh reality of being Christian in the Middle East today.</p>
<p>It is within this darkness of all times and with the evil that has surrounded us that we need to be guided by the true Light of Christ. Since there is absolutely no peace in my world, I can only pray for inner peace that the newborn Christ brings to all. Each one of us can be empowered to believe we can make a difference in the world because of the love God has for us. It is that great spiritual joy that the birth of Christ brings to our heart to help us overcome any struggle. It is how we face the struggle that will help us gain our salvation. May these holy days during the Birth of our Savior inspire us to cultivate more patience which leads to life with Christ.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In unison with the City of Peace, please keep the Holy Land in your prayers. Let us keep our hope that &nbsp;peace between all faiths and all people is still possible, although at a dead lock for twenty years. The most important message on Christmas Day is that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem so that we may “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…”</p>
<blockquote><p>“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)</p>
</blockquote>
letters from the holy landtaybehTue, 14 Jan 2014 23:47:00 +0000afrishman32051 at http://www.antiochian.orgDecember 21: Turning our Eyes to Bethlehem http://www.antiochian.org/node/29797
<!--paging_filter--><p>Dear Friends of Saint George Taybeh,</p>
<p>I wish all of you a blessed Holy Christmas celebration with your loved ones. As I am celebrating Christmas in Boston with my family it is with a heavy heart to know about the tragedy in Connecticut. Prayer is more important than ever. May our New Born Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have mercy upon us and save us from all evil around us. Forgive the repeat in this recent blog, but it is meant to keep our hope in the Good News. With sincere good wishes during these most holy days,</p>
<p>Maria</p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Turning our Eyes to Bethlehem</strong></p>
<p>By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.</p>
<p><em>"Let all the earth worship you, and sing to you Shout with joy to God, all the earth!"</em></p>
<p>Christ is Born! Glorify Him!</p>
<p>It is that special time of year where all eyes might turn to Bethlehem to receive the Prince of Peace in a place where peace simply does not exist right now. Although during this year’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people on 29 November, the United Nations General Assembly made a symbolic historic vote to grant Palestinians non-member state status which nine countries refused but 138 confirmed the existence of Palestine.</p>
<p>It is the same day, by the way, in 1947 Palestine was partitioned to create the State of Israel and the ethnic cleansing began for a pure Jewish state which continues to cause the day to day suffering of all people in the Holy Land shrieking down the Christian presence to less than 2% . So the complicated story continues with one nation’s great glory to another nation’s great catastrophe when more than 500 Palestinian towns were erased from the map and more than 750,000 people were forced to leave their homes at gunpoint to save their lives.</p>
<p>However, Palestinian Christians have remained a faithful witness to the True Light of Christ under many hardships and attempting to maintain their centuries old traditions rooted with the first apostles and followers of Christ. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11) Christ as our focus continues to give a new hope desperately needed. But as all eyes turn to Bethlehem to remember Christ was born to save humanity from sin and offer eternal life they will find that the local people will be celebrating Christmas under Israeli military occupation for the 45<sup>th</sup> year and are totally locked in behind a huge concrete wall creating an open air prison with more than 82 illegal Israeli settlements surrounding Bethlehem itself by controlling all of the roads, natural resources and borders.</p>
<p>Bethlehem was originally called Ephratah (Ruth 4:11). The word Bethlehem literally means “house of bread” because of the many wheat fields that were in the area. And how appropriate for God to select this small spot on earth to be born in since He is the bread of life. “Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). Every place in the land of Christ’s birth was made holy by Christ Himself thus we continue to called it as St. Constantine first called it, “The Holy Land,” although many unholy things happen daily. We keep the hope for peace.</p>
<p>As all eyes turn to Bethlehem they will realize that the Holy Nativity Church is one of the few churches left unharmed during many wars and invasions especially during the Persian invasions when many other churches in the Holy Land were destroyed. Our oral history says that the icons of the wise men wearing Persian clothes gave the invaders second thoughts about damaging this church building.</p>
<p>St. Helen, my favorite saint along with her son the great Emperor St. Constantine receives credit for building the Holy Nativity Church in the 4th century. However, Emperor Justinian made the church larger and built a monastery for the monks. On the back side chapels, we can still venerate the relics of the Holy Innocents, skulls of thousands of young male children executed by Herod to avoid the loss of his throne and thus history documents the first Christian martyrs.</p>
<p>I can still hear in my head the words of my children the first time they saw the beautiful silver star in the grotto in the very bottom of the cave where the midnight Christmas liturgy is celebrated on the Old Julian Calendar with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and usually over 50 bishops and priests. “What does that say, Mom? And the message written in Latin is actually for the whole world: “Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.” (Luke 2:1-7). Bumping into someone you know in this amazing spiritually uplifting holy place is what I hope the feeling will be like when we see our friends in God’s Heavenly kingdom. It is a radiant unexplainable joy that overcomes you. It is God’s love for humanity that sustains your soul.</p>
<p>During these most holy days, let us remember to pray for peace for the whole world and especially as our eyes are turned to Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord and Savior, we remember what the Angel Gabriel said to the Holy Mother of God “nothing will be impossible with God.” Thus we keep our hope in our new born King that one day a just peace will come and our church leaders will not be shy to stand with the oppressed and mobilize churches to have a louder voice for basic human rights for all in Israel/Palestine. It is right to stand for truth. "This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it."</p>
<p>Turning our eyes to Bethlehem is a reminder that Jesus is “the reason for the season.”But it is the “forgotten faithful” the indigenous Palestinian Christians who have represented “forgiveness,” and not just love for neighbor but love for enemies in a land that has known only conflict and they have been a steadfast witness for the love and peace of Christ for over two thousand years. They continue to pay with their life for Christ the True Light of the world. “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” (John 8:12).</p>
<p>May this holy Christmas celebration be most blessed, healthy and joyous for all of you. Christ is Born!</p>
letters from the holy landtaybehMon, 04 Feb 2013 19:10:36 +0000afrishman29797 at http://www.antiochian.org